Resultant forces

Question 1

What is the resultant force?

Answer 1

A single force that has the same effect on the object as all the individual forces acting together.

Question 2

What happens when the forces are balanced?

Answer 2

The resultant force is zero.

Question 3

In a force diagram, what represents the size of the force?

Answer 3

The longer the arrow, the bigger the force.

Question 4

What does a resultant force of 0 mean?

Answer 4

If the object is stationary, it stays stationary. If the object is moving it remains moving at that speed in the same direction.

Question 5

If the object has a resultant force that is not 0, what does this mean?

Answer 5

A stationary object starts to move in the direction of the resultant force. A moving object speeds up, slows down or changes direction depending on the direction of the resultant force.

Question 6

What are the factors that affect the size of acceleration?

Answer 6

Size of the force and the mass.

Question 7

How do you work out the acceleration?

Answer 7

a = F/m 
a = acceleration (m/s(squared))
F = resultant force (N)
m = mass (kg)